Getting Around

Traveling to, from, and around Mercer Island? Find more information about transportation and parking options below. 

Biking & Walking

• Mercer Island Bicycle Routes Map
• Information about Park Trails

Public Transportation

Mercer Island is served by two regional public transportation providers: King County Metro and Sound Transit. Click the links below to access schedules, maps, and other resources for planning your trip by bus or rail.

Parking in Town Center

A variety of parking options exist for commuters, shoppers, and other visitors in Town Center. Details about many options are provided below. Please note: The information shared here does not guarantee parking availability, time limits, or enforcement rules. Please always check signage when parking your vehicle in Town Center. 

Mercer Island Park-and-Ride Lot - 8000 North Mercer Way 

This two-level parking garage is owned and operated by Sound Transit and available for free on a first-come, first-served basis to transit riders.

Features

• 447 parking stalls
• 16 bike lockers and bike racks
• Park-and-Ride Permit Parking – This program was managed by Sound Transit and is currently suspended. Sign up for the Sound Transit parking permits e-mail list for future updates to the program.

Regulations

• Parking is intended for transit customers unless otherwise posted.
• Vehicles will be ticketed or towed if they are parked for more than 24 hours, are parked in no-parking areas, are parked in ADA spots, or are violating other posted parking regulations.

TOWN CENTER COMMUTER PARKING PERMIT

This permit program provides an alternative to the Park-and-Ride for Mercer Island residents commuting off-Island by restricting some on-street parking spaces to permit holders during the week. Commuter permit parking locations are noted in blue in the image below and listed for reference.

78th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th Street to SE 29th Street

SE 29th Street: Parking on both sides between 77th Avenue SE and 78th Avenue SE

80th Avenue SE: Parking on both sides between SE 28th Street and SE 30th Street

SE 30th Street: Parking on both sides between 78th Avenue SE and 80th Avenue SE

Regulations

• Permit holders may park their vehicle 7am-9am, Monday through Friday, in the identified areas (see below) with a valid permit displayed on their vehicle.
• Officers will enforce parking without a permit from 7am-9am on weekdays only. At other times, posted parking regulations apply.
• In general, vehicles cannot be left parked for more than 72 hours.
• The penalty for parking in a permit-restricted area without a valid permit is $35 and a penalty for any transfer, attempt to transfer, or other unauthorized use of a parking permit is $250.
• The cost for an annual permit is $5/year. Learn more about the program and how to purchase a permit here.

Please note: The Town Center Commuter Parking permit does NOT authorize parking in the North Mercer Restricted Parking District (RPD), which is also permit-regulated during the week. Learn more about the RPD permit program below, and please see MICC 10.74.030(B) for a full list of streets with time-limited parking, permit parking, and prohibited parking in the Town Center. 

ON-STREET PARKING AND PARKING GARAGES

To help community members navigate different public parking options, the City created a new parking map that shows locations and regulations for on-street parking and parking garage locations.

Still searching for parking garages in Town Center? Look for the new parking signs to find your way! 

OFF-STREET PARKING

Many surface parking lots are also available at Town Center’s shopping and business centers. These lots are privately owned and operated and are not enforced by the City (except for violations for ADA parking). When parking to visit your favorite Town Center restaurant or boutique, make sure to check the signage posted on-site for parking time limits and other regulations. The City does not guarantee the availability of or specific regulations for any off-street parking in Town Center.

TOWN CENTER PARKING PLAN

The Town Center Parking Plan was adopted on November 21, 2023, and includes strategies focused on making Town Center parking more functionally available, usable for different drivers, and supportive of other options for non-driving to and around Town Center. Learn more and review the adopted plan here.

NEW COMMUTER PARKING PROJECT

On February 20, 2024, Mercer Island City Council approved a site concept for a new long-term regional transit commuter parking project in the Town Center and authorized the City Manager to proceed with design (AB 6405). More information will be shared on Let's Talk as this project progresses. 

Other Parking Around Mercer Island

Looking for information about other parking programs around the Island? Keep reading for details about two options.

SATELLITE PARK-AND-RIDE - MERCER VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER

Seventeen free parking spaces are provided on a first-come, first-served basis to commuters at Mercer Village, SE 68th Street and 84th Avenue SE (southend QFC), for commuters. These spaces are served by Metro Routes 204, 630, and 989 and are managed by Mercer Village, not the City. Check signage posted on-site before leaving your vehicle. 

NORTH MERCER RESTRICTED PARKING DISTRICT (RPD) - 76th avenue se tp 82nd ave se, NORTH OF NORTH MERCER WAY

This permit program restricts some on-street parking access to residents living within the boundary of the North Mercer Restricted Parking District (RPD) during the week. The program was established in 2003 to prevent commuter parking spillover when the Park-and-Ride is full and also grants the same privileges of the Town Center Parking Permit. RPD permit boundaries are identified in purple in the image below and also listed for reference.

SE 24th Street: North side betwee 78th Avenue SE and 81st Avenue SE

78th Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and SE 22nd Place

80th Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and SE 22nd Street

81st Avenue SE: East side between North Mercer Way and SE 24th Street

82nd Avenue SE: Between SE 24th Street and 81st Ave SE

The RPD is also included on the new digital parking map available here: www.mercerisland.gov/tcparkingoptions. 

Regulations

• Permits are available only for Mercer Island residents whose home address falls within the boundaries of the RPD. Additional parking restrictions can be found in MICC 10.74.30(A).
• Guest Parking Permit: Residents within the RPD may apply for up to two guest parking permits.
• Temporary Contractor Parking Permit: Residents within the RPD may also obtain a permit for a temporary contractor who requires on-street parking in the RPD for more than two consecutive days and cannot be accommodated by the resident's Guest Parking Permit.
• The cost for each annual permit is $5/year. Learn more about the program and how to purchase a permit here.